The artwork “Flooding at Moret” is a cityscape created by the Impressionist painter Alfred Sisley in 1889. This oil on canvas painting, with dimensions of 65 x 81 cm, depicts a scene of a flood in the town of Moret-sur-Loing, where Sisley lived for a period of his life. Consistent with the Impressionist movement to which Sisley belonged, this artwork portrays the play of light and atmospheric conditions through quick, loose brushstrokes and a focus on the depiction of natural light.
In “Flooding at Moret,” Sisley captures a moment in time where water inundates the cityscape. The painting is characterized by a soft, muted palette, with predominantly cool tones that suggest the chill of water and weather. The composition is dominated by a sweeping view of the flood, where swollen waters have overtaken the foreground, partially submerging boats and the lower parts of buildings. Leafless trees stand as silent witnesses to the inundation, their slender, vertical forms providing a contrast to the horizontal expanse of water. The sky is rendered with gentle brushstrokes, suggesting a partially cloudy day with patches of blue peeking through. In the distance, the architecture of Moret becomes part of the horizon, their shapes softly blurred—a signature impressionist technique that evokes a sense of impermanence and the fleeting quality of the scene being depicted. The artwork beautifully conveys the serene yet powerful presence of nature and its effects on human habitation.
